Hydrangea plant named ‘H211901’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘H211901’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely flowering habit; and large inflorescences with numerous pink-colored sterile flowers with red purple-colored margins.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘H211901’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla,commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘H211901’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Glandorf,Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create newfreely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong and sturdy stems, largeinflorescences, attractive flower color and good postproductionlongevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2007 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 205133-004,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 204169-001,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in March, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since June, 2009 hasshown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘H211901’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘H211901’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large inflorescences with numerous pink-colored sterile        flowers with red purple-colored margins.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of female parent selection in sterile flower color as plants ofthe female parent selection have light pink-colored sterile flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants ofmale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger inflorescences than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeahybrida ‘Agrihydravijf’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,731. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of thenew Hydrangea differed from plants of ‘Agrihydravijf’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea were larger than plants of        ‘Agrihydravijf’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea had longer leaves than plants of        ‘Agrihydravijf’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea had larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Agrihydravijf’.    -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Agrihydravijf’ differed in        sterile flower color as plants of ‘Agrihydravijf’ had light        pink-colored sterile flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘H211901’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and in the followingdescription were grown during the winter in 13-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C.Plants of the new Hydrangea were one year old when the photograph anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H211901’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 205133-004, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 204169-001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick; whitish brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly            spreading plant habit; rounded in shape; strong and sturdy            stems; rapid growth rate and vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 45 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 40 cm to 45 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about six            lateral branches per plant.        -   Length.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Color.—Close to 144B overlain with close to 187A; lenticels,            close to 187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 15 cm to 18 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 cm to 10 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Dentate to serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to rugose, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147C; venation, close to 146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About            4.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single rounded sterile and small            inconspicuous star-shaped fertile flowers arranged on            mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles globular in shape;            flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Short production time as a cooling            treatment is not required for flower development; continuous            flowering during the summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about four months on            the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last            about one month on the plant, fertile flowers not            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 60 to 80            sterile flowers per panicle and about 50 fertile flowers per            panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 13 cm to 15 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 16 cm to 20 cm.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Shape: Round. Color: Close to 160C.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Round. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Petals, fertile flowers only, sterile flowers without            petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl.            Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 160D. Fully opened, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 186D; towards the apex, close to            186B; color becoming closer to 186B with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm to            3 cm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire, slightly serrulate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 154C; margins, close to 59D. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 66D; margins,            close to 63A; color becoming closer to 63A with development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five to            six in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About            1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            145D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157A.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 62D.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 65D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only; sterile flowers            without reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:            Eight. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to            155D. Anther shape: Conical. Anther length: About 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 145D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower:            Three. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma            color: Close to 155D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:            Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 145C.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color:            Close to 200C.-   Disease & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,    plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant    to pathogens or pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38°    C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘H211901’ asillustrated and described.